The study of Hawaiian coins, tokens, medals, paper money, and scrip.

Month: March 2013

I’ve been on the hunt for some Hawaiiana medals and sometimes all it takes is your knowledge about Hawaiiana history….

Captain James Cook discovered (made the world aware) of the Hawaiian Islands on his third voyage. He commanded the HMS Resolution…

Below is a unlisted bronze medal of Captain James Cook and the HMS Resolution found on a Medalist First Day Cover (FDC). Population of this of this FDC is documented as 1,000 made (see the back side of cover).

The total number of bronze medals struck is undetermined, however the 1,000 is valid population estimate. It is highly unlikely that these medals were sold individually as the prime interest in making this FDC was for the philately community (not the numismatic community). This is one example in which the Hawaiiana numismatist can locate items in a crossover or related Hawaiiana collectible area.

I keep admiring a Pantheon Saloon token being offered by a dealer and could no longer resist. I had to make it part of my collection.

I compared this specimen with images of others that I could find online. I finally decided to purchase it after comparing it with a NGC MS63 specimen. I believe this one will grade higher if I submitted to NGC. The only issue I may have is the surface (which maybe taken care of by NCS).

The strike is incredibly bold and the details look freshly minted. No trace of wear. The selling point for me was the boldness of the small text “C.A. Klinker & Co. S.F”. Where SF is San Francisco.

As for the token’s year, most online references (at auction websites) indicate 1895 . As I have investigated, it maybe as earlier 1881 as this October 1881 newspaper clipping indicates. Jim Dodd’s Pantheon Saloon licences (retail spirit and billiards) was to expire in the month of November 1881.

I noticed an ad at an unnamed auction site, a seller stated that his Hawaii flag silver ingot was the real thing and all others were unscrupulously being offered for sale. Misinformation and incomplete knowledge led to this seller’s statement.

There are actually 6 known Hawaiian flag sterling silver ingots that were issued by a single manufacturer prior to 1991. This is how to identify these ingots.

The first group is identified by the reverse of the ingot. It has the words “HAWAII” (all capitalized), underneath are the words “The Aloha State” and “Flag Adopted: April 8, 1896”. These are proof sterling silver ingots as identified by the M&R catalog numbers:

2SI-18 (aka full size)

2SI-19 (aka mini)

Wait, M&R incorrectly stated the mintage figures (see below)…

The second group is also identified by the reverse of the ingot. It has the words “THE HAWAIIAN FLAG” (all capitalized) with text “This flag flew over independent Hawaii from 1845 until the United States agreed to annex the territory August 12, 1898 Continues in use today as state flag.” These are proof sterling silver ingots as identified by the M&R catalog numbers:

If you review page 149 of M&R. You are going to still be confused due to the visual grouping (Hawaii Flag and with its varieties listed). A more cleaner listing using the THN catalog number and to correct mintage totals and gold omission.